Jim Sheridan To Adapt His Movie ‘In America’ As HBO Drama Series With FtvS

Two decades ago, Jim Sheridan took on his most personal project, teaming with his then-teenage daughters Naomi and Kirsten to write a movie based on their family’s experience as struggling Irish immigrants living in a shabby Hell’s Kitchen apartment building occupied by artists and junkies. That movie became the 2002In America, directed by Jim Sheridan, which earned him and his daughters a writing Oscar nomination. Now the trio has signed on to develop a drama series for HBO inspired by the movie, which no doubt will reflect more of their memories from their early years in New York. Fox TV Studios is producing.

Written by the Sheridans, In America centers on an Irish family who, broke and looking for a fresh start, settles in an apartment building in the Bronx where they struggle to befriend their neighbors, also immigrants, and realize they all have one thing in common: a past that continues to haunt them. The project stems from FtvS’s first-look deal with manager and producer Dan Halsted, whose company Manage-ment represents Sheridan. In America was one of the ideas Sheridan and Halsted discussed in creative meetings at FtvS. Everyone loved the prospect of turning the movie into a series. Serendipitously, FtvS already had the rights to the film as it was distributed by Fox Searchlight and thus part of the Fox library.

Jim Sheridan, his daughters Naomi and Kirsten Sheridan — both filmmakers in their own right — will executive produce the series with Halsted and FtvS executive-turned-producer Pancho Mansfield via his first-look deal with the studio. Here is a trailer for the movie, which also earned Oscar nominations for actors Samantha Morton and Djimon Hounsou:

This would mark the TV debut of six-time Oscar nominee Jim Sheridan, whose movies also include My Left Foot and In the Name Of The Father. The Sheridans are repped by attorney Joe Dapello. Jim Sheridan is also with WME; Naomi Sheridan is with APA; Kirsten Sheridan is with UTA and Anonymous Content.

6 Comments

Love this movie!!! Good move. Can’t wait to see the TV version. Kudos to Manage-Ment for making this happen.

Julie O' • on Sep 19, 2014 12:07 pm

“My Left Foot.” “In The Name Of The Father.” “In America.” Those Irish can write!

GAD • on Sep 19, 2014 10:59 am

Absolutely wonderful film. One of my favorites. I would re-subscribe to HBO if this made it on air.

In the Name of the Father John Misty • on Sep 19, 2014 11:11 am

Sheridan should be making moves — not pilots that HBO will never air.

Show em’ how it’s done, Jim!!!

Jack Tyson • on Sep 19, 2014 12:21 pm

Cool movie. Saw it not too long after 9/11 so hit home more. I know that hospital woman and the doctors helped them with the one girl so she’s a shoe in to be back, but are they going to let the neighbor live. H e was awesome character.